Dr. Theo Cray and FBI agent Jessica Blackwood confront a cataclysmic conspiracy in a pulse-quickening thriller by the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Naturalist.

A mysterious electrical storm plunges Manhattan into darkness. As a strange, smothering fog rolls in, all communication crashes. In the blink of an eye, the island seems to vanish into a void.

FBI special agent Jessica Blackwood and brilliant scientist Dr. Theo Cray know this isn’t a freak accident. It’s a sinister sleight of hand. Their greatest adversary, a serial killer and cultist known as the Warlock, has escaped during a prison transfer in New York. A depraved master of manipulation, he promised the end of days. He’s making good on it.

One by one, cities across the globe are erupting in chaos as they disappear into the same black holes. Even for two ingenious trackers like Jessica and Theo, there’s still so much to learn about the pattern to the Warlock’s madness. The voids are just a warm-up for something bigger. To discover it - to stop it - Jessica and Theo must descend into the darkest of shadows - and minds.

Listening Length

9 hours and 59 minutes
Author

Andrew Mayne
Narrator

Jennifer O'Donnell, see all
Audible release date

Sept. 7 2021
Language

English
Publisher

Brilliance Audio
ASIN

B08NQ27GMR
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
See all details

1 credit a month good for any title of your choice, yours to keep.
The Plus Catalogue—listen all you want to thousands of Audible Originals, podcasts, and audiobooks.
Access to exclusive member-only sales, as well as 30% off your purchases of any additional titles.
After 30 days Audible is $14.95/month + applicable taxes. Renews automatically.

Learn more about membership

Sold and delivered by Audible, an Amazon company

List Price: $37.71

You Save: $4.71 (12%)

By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Sold and delivered by Audible, an Amazon company

People who bought this also bought

Page 1 of 1Start OverPage 1 of 1

Related to this topic

Page 1 of 1Start OverPage 1 of 1

Product details

Listening Length	9 hours and 59 minutes
Author	Andrew Mayne
Narrator	Jennifer O'Donnell, Will Damron
Audible.ca Release Date	September 07 2021
Publisher	Brilliance Audio
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B08NQ27GMR
Best Sellers Rank	#57,091 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #94 in Medical & Forensic Thrillers #523 in Medical Thrillers #1,112 in Police Procedural Mysteries

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5

7,121 global ratings

5 star		56%
4 star		29%
3 star		11%
2 star		2%
1 star		2%

How are ratings calculated?

Top reviews from Canada

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

JRW

Kind of convoluted ( but still likeable)

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on February 22, 2022

Verified Purchase

I have been a fan of Andrew Mayne since my first Theo Cray book. Looking forward to more of his books.

Helpful

Linda J. Hiebert

Decent Book

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on September 12, 2021

Parts of the book might have made a bit more sense if I'd read previous books in the Jessica Blackwood series, but I don't think they are necessary to enjoy the book.

Near the end, I was a bit worried that the entire book was just a set up for one line that perhaps has just a bit too much to do with the current world situation, but thankfully it all came together and delivered a decent conclusion.

Good book.

Helpful

Annie56

Amazing read!

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on March 25, 2022

Andrew Mayne has impeccably melded two startlingly great series and created another. Looking forward to Book 2.
Edge of the seat action and superb interaction between the protagonists.

Helpful

Matt Pechey

Mayne is a Master of the Genre!

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on September 12, 2021

After developing some strong series, Andrew Mayne has tried something few authors dare to attempt. In this novel, he’s combined the power of FBI Agent Jessica Blackwood—former magician and illusionist—with the analytical prowess of Dr. Theo Cray, a computational biologist. These two protagonists have done amazing things on their own, but when combined, the story takes on an entirely new depth and excitement. After Manhattan appears to disappear in plain sight, Jessica Blackwood is called to the scene, hoping that she can deduce what’s going on. She’s baffled, but wonders if her nemesis, Michael Heywood, could be behind it. Many within the Intelligence community have a list of individuals who may have assisted Heywood in his plan, including one Dr. Theo Cray. Blackwood travels around the world to find him, which only leads to more ‘blackout’ moments as they spend time in Asia. What follows is a series of events that neither Cray nor Blackwood can explain, though it all points to trouble, particularly if Michael Heywood is involved. A chilling tale that is full of thought-provoking moments, showing just how sharp Andre Mayne’s writing can be.

While she has grown up loving magic, even Jessica Blackwood cannot fathom what’s happened when she is called out to help find Manhattan. Having disappeared in some form of electronic pulse, combined with a fog, the city seems too have been carved from the map. Everyone has Michael Heywood—The Warlock—on their minds as a possible suspect, with his recent escape from custody. However, he could not have done it alone. Many suspects are bandied about, but there’s one that catches Jessica’s eye, Dr. Theo Cray.

After travelling to the far side fo the world, Blackwood locates the doctor, who’s been trying to vaccinate local population so they are not murdered by their own government. While noble in his actions, Cray is not seen as a hero by many and has been tossed in a putrid jail cell. Blackwood is able to help him and uses her own form of deception to get him out of the country, while explaining about Manhattan. When two more ‘events’ occur in Asia, both Blackwood and Cray decide to stay in the region to work through what’s going on.

It’s soon clear that the ‘Void’ moments are only a distraction for what’s really going on, the theft of massive amounts of data. While Blackwood and Cray cannot understand what it’s for, this has Michael Heywood written all over it. They undercover some truly horrible science experiments in both Thailand and Ukraine, which could possibly open up new and disturbing outcomes, but the data is not comprehensive enough to offer any concrete answers.

Returning to the US, Cray and Blackwood must jump through some Intelligence hoops to remain on the case, while being goaded by Heywood to decipher what he has in mind. Slowly, but intentionally, they make some progress and learn that something huge is in the works, a plan that would truly help Michael Heywood shed his ‘Warlock’ moniker for another... Mastermind! A captivating novel that had me guessing at every page.

Since stumbling upon Andrew Mayne, I have learned so very much about a wide variety of subjects, whether it be magic, biology, or even police sleuthing underwater. Mayne is so full of ideas and means by which crime can be solved, allowing his books to open new pathways within the genre while keeping his fans entertained throughout. This protagonist amalgamation was ingenious, something I often encourage authors of multiple series to attempt. The premise was strong, working well alongside the novel’s pace and constant revelations.

One essential area in a book is its characters and how they come to life on the page. With established stories for both Jessica Blackwood and Dr. Theo Cray, it was less about building them up, but sustaining what series fans knew about them. Working alongside one another, it is the character chemistry that is essential, something that Mayne did really well. Neither knew much about the other, allowing for some brief mentions of their respective backstories, but it is the strong connectivity that kept the book going and how they are able to feed off one another, developing themselves as individuals and a unit simultaneously.

While there were many characters who helped move the story along, it was the science that stole the show in many regards. Mayne has never shied away from analysis of events through different lenses and this book was full of that. Exploring biology, computer analytics, virology, and even some currency issues, Mayne floods the narrative with ideas that could spark curiosity amongst readers. I found myself lost in the discussion at times, though was able to surmise some of what was being said, through poignant questions the characters asked throughout the discussion.

There is so much going on within this book, it is difficult to determine where I ought to begin. The premise of the piece was quite strong and kept things moving from the outset. Mayne may appear to be taking things in one direction, only to steer them on a completely opposite pathway before too long. The narrative gained momentum throughout and kept me wanting to turn a few more pages. Chapters of varying lengths kept the story on track and left things dangling at the right times, forcing the reader to push onwards to satiate their curiosity. While the science was intense at times, it all came into perspective and Mayne did a wonderful job of keeping the reader engaged and informed. I can see this Blackwood/Cray partnership being one that I will enjoy, as Andrew Mayne keeps the stories coming.

Kudos, Mr. Mayne, on this stellar collaboration between two of your key protagonists. There’s a lot more to explore and you are sure to impress many of your series fans.

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

NickB

Great team up

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 11, 2021

Verified Purchase

First off if you haven't read the Blackwood or Cray books then please don't start here. This is the coming together of two ongoing story arcs or character's personal journeys. It is written from their individual perspectives and I can understand how it takes a second to realise who is narrating each chapter. I am guessing there are two possible ways to read this book, either it is almost a science fantasy of ideas and speculations mixed together to create a thriller or it is a well researched book that where everything is very possible (and having some expertise in the field of one of the earlier Blackwood books) I am pretty convinced the author has really done his homework before writing. While I hope not 'Bond Villains' we live in a world where individual entrepreneurs lead global spaceflight and offer to bail out NASA from their own private bank account. Truth is in 2021 a 'billionaire villain' is no longer the stuff of fiction. If I have a criticism it is that a number of really interesting characters from previous stories are missing from this book and their presence could have added further dimensions and at times the story feels a little 'narrow' or 'thin' I want to be more specific but won't spoil the plot. I am looking forward to the next one and I hope to see more of the 'clever' illusions Blackwood usually uses. This finale to this book was good but not that 'oh yes that's really clever' ending of the others and yes I have ordered the next one!

5 people found this helpful

Mrs C A Thompson

On dear, another clever clogs!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 20, 2022

Verified Purchase

What is this modern fashion for present tense writing? Is it just to show how clever the author is? This is not the way to tell a story and irritates me beyond bearing. This book could have been really good, but I shall never know because I stopped reading it after chapter two. Please editors and publishers; discourage this horrible practice.

One person found this helpful

Bosworthy

"With one bound he was free..."

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 8, 2022

Verified Purchase

What a waste of a couple of hours of my time on Earth... one of the worst books I have ever read (and believe me, there have been a few), absolutely dreadful, plot jumping all over the place, stupid non-descriptions of how this unlikely couple get out of situations... I was hoping it would get better - before the ridiculous ending happened. Reads like it was intended as a screen-play.

Never again will I read a book by this writer.

I advise you to benefit from my misfortune.

neal davies

Really enjoyed

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 23, 2022

Verified Purchase

This was the first book I have read by this author but it won't be the last,can't wait to read the next one ,I should give it 5 stars but I've decided to award 4 stars because if I read something truly spectacular I need to leave a higher score available but as far as I am concerned this is a 5 star read 👍😁

JillyB

Good Read!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 6, 2021

Verified Purchase

I enjoyed this, had lost patience with the previous Theo Cray books as they seemed to be the same book repeated. However this was (for me) a much better book. Liked some of the nerdy expositions as well!

One person found this helpful

See all reviews

Amazon Music Stream millions of songs	Amazon Advertising Find, attract, and engage customers	Amazon Business Everything for your business	Amazon Drive Cloud storage from Amazon	Amazon Web Services Scalable Cloud Computing Services

Book Depository Books With Free Delivery Worldwide	Goodreads Book reviews & recommendations	IMDb Movies, TV & Celebrities	Amazon Photos Unlimited Photo Storage Free With Prime	Shopbop Designer Fashion Brands

Warehouse Deals Open-Box Discounts	Whole Foods Market We Believe in Real Food	Amazon Renewed Like-new products you can trust	Blink Smart Security for Every Home

Mastermind: A Theo Cray and Jessica Blackwood Thriller (Theo Cray and Jessica Blackwood, Book 1) Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Free with an Audible trial $0.00$0.00

Buy with 1-Click $33.00$33.00

People who bought this also bought

Related to this topic

Product details

Customer reviews

Top reviews from Canada

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Top reviews from other countries

Free with an Audible trial

$0.00

Buy with 1-Click

$33.00